Combined guide and clamp for automobile side curtains



Feb. 19, 1929.

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H. S. DAVIS COMBINED GUIDE AND CLAMP FOR AUTOMOBILE SIDE CURTAINS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1924 w w M a a Q g M 5 4w H w i hm w, W 0

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Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES HERBERT S. DAVIS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COMBINED GUIDE AND CLAMP FOR AUTOMOBILE SIDE CURTAINS.

Application filed November 20, 1924. Serial No. 751,055.

This invention relates to automobile constructions and particularly to a construction in which there are flexible side curtains mounted so that they may extend between the top and body of the vehicle to exclude wind and moisture, but which may be retracted out of the way into the top or body if desired. It has for an object to'provide means for guiding the edges of these curtains during their movement and then securely clamping these edges to prevent their flapping in the wind or becoming torn, and also to make a tight joint between the edges of adjacent curtains.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction, will be effective and reliable in operation, may be easily and quickly ma nipulated to either clamp or release the curtain or curtains, and which when not in use may be easily and quickly moved to a position out of the way and securely fastened therein.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference characters are employed in the various figures to indicate corresponding elements.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view from the'inside of a vehicle showing my improved curtain guide and clamp in position and with the curtains drawn.

Fig. E2 is a detail vertical section of the upper end thereof on a larger scale, the section being taken substantially online 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar section of the lower end taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig 1.

Fig. 4; is a view of the inner side of the top showing the curtain guide and clamp swung up out of the way when not in use.

Sis a transverse section substantially on line 5--5 of Fig. 4; on a larger scale.

Fi 6 a transverse section substantially on line (P43 of Fig. 1 on a larger scale.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section substantially on. line 7-4 of Fig. 1 on larger scale.

iii S is a longitudinal section substantially on line 8--8 of Fig. 7,. and

9 a longitudinal section through a portion of the guide and clamp.

There has been for somtime a trend toward the use of closed automobiles instead of the open or touring models as they are more I of these rollers,

eifective in keeping out rain and cold although the open models are preferred for a number of reasons. In warm weather they are more open giving greater air circulation and they are also much lighter and have a smaller first cost. These models usually are provided with removable curtains which may be fastened to keep out wind and rain, but they usually require that the operator get out of the car and apply them from the outside, which is objectionable, requires considerable time, and is a material disadvantage in the case of a sudden shower. For this reason it is desirable to have curtains which may be drawn and secured in position easily and quickly from the inside of the car. F urther- I more, in the later types of open top constructions there are no upright supports between the body and the top except at the front and rear ends thereof, so that it leaves the sides entirelyopen. It is impractical to use a curtain which extends the full length of the open side and it is, therefore, desirable to make this curtain in at least two separate sections mounted so that they are independent and may be manipulated independently of each other. This arrangement as will be obvious leaves a pair of free side edges of the curtains at substantially the center of the sides of the car which are unsupported. It is therefore, an object of my invention to provide a rigid guiding means for these free edges which may also be clamped againstthese edges to securely hold them in proper position and prevent their flapping in the wind, becoming torn, or allowing entrance of rain and wind. The device is so constructed that when not in use it may be easily and quickly moved out of the way leaving the side opening between the bottom and top entirely free and clear.

In the drawings I have shown a portion of the open top at 10 spaced above the side of the body indicated at 11, the side member of the frame supporting the top being shown at 12. In the present instance a pair of flexible curtains 13 and 14 are mounted on rollers 15 secured under and at the side of the top where they are out of the way and are not visible from the outside of the car. They are also preferably enclosed by a suitable casing such as a Z-shaped member 16 which may extend up on the inner and lower sides as indicated in Fig. 2, and have supporting elements 17 in which the trunnions for the rollers are mounted. These rollers are of any desired type of spring ope-rated roller tending to wind tie curtain thereon. At their lower ends these curtains are provided with any suitable typeoi catch 18 adapted to mesh with a suitable member mounted on the body to hold them in proper position, and the curtains may or may not be provided with transparent windows 19. In the present case there is a curtain at each side of the front and rear seats of the vehicle with the joint between them located just to the rear of the back 20 of the front seat and just forwardly of the rear side doors 21, and my improved curtain guide and clamp is mounted at this point.

Various constructions of this guide and clamp may be used for this purpose, that shown being employed for the purpose of illustration. In the construction shown the guide and clamp comprise a pair of upright members 22- and 23 formed from sheet metal, the inner member 22 being substantially U- shaped as shown with outwardly extending side flanges 24, and the outer member 23 is mounted so that it may be moved toward and from the inner member and coact with the side flanges to clamp the oi? the curtain between them. In the present construction the upper end of the member 22 is pivoted to the side 12 of the top by any suitable means as shown in Figs. 1 2. The pivot shown comprises a screw 25 threaded into the side n ember and passing through the end of the member 22 with suitable washers 28 and 27 on opposite sides of this member, and with a concave spring plate 28 between the member 22 and one of these washers to prevent the member rattling. At its opposite end the member 22 is rigidly secured to the side of the body 11 by a catch, which, while rigidly securing this end of the member, may be easily and quickly released when the member is not in use to allow it to be swung up out of the way, as shown in Fig. 4;, about its pivot 25. In the pr sent case this catch comprises a casing 29 mounted on the inner side of the body 11 and enclosing a catch 30 pivoted to this casing as shown at 31, and a spring 32' tends to hold it in the securing pos tion. The catch is provided with a lug 32/ adapted to enter a notch in the end of the member 22, and it also has a lug 35 to eng t the front edge of this member as shown in Fig. l, to prevent its sliding out from the catch. The lug 33 also holds th member from drawing upwardly so that it may be maintained straight and rigid although the U-shaped construction of this member malres itvery strong and rigid in itself. The catch 30 may be swung on its pivot to release the en l of the member 22 by means of a lever 3-6 pivoted to the top of the casing 29 and also connected to the top of the catch by means of pin extending through an opening in the top of the casing.

A spring operated catch is also provided to moaaee retain the free end of this guide and clamp when it is swung upwardly out of the way as shown in Fig. 4. A simple catch for this purpose is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 comprising a member 37 pivoted to a block 38 at 39 and having an inwardly projecting lug 40 inclined on its lower side, and it is preferably slightly concavedon its upper side to engage the bottom of the notch 34 of the member 22 and hold the same elevated. A spring ll tends to hold the catch in the holding position, and it may be easily released by drawing outwardly on the lower end of the member 37, as shown in Fig. 5. When the free end of the member 22 is swung upwardly its upper edge will engage the inclined lower side of the lug 40 and move the same outwardly to allow the member to pass and the spring will automatically move it to the securing position.

The outer member 23 of the combined guide and clamp is secured to transversely extending pins 42 which are slidable in suitable guic es carried by the member 22, these guides, as shown being suitable bushings 43 carried by this member. Rigidly secured to these pins are s Jaced blocks 44: and 4:5, and mounted between these locks are cam blocks 46 and 47 which have inclined surfaces engaging the blocks 44 and d5 respectively. The cam blocks are mounted upon reciprocating plates 4-8 and 49 respectively which are mounted to slide in suitable guides carried within the element 22. This may be a strip of sheet metal 50 bent substantially to the form shown in Figs. 6 and '2" to embrace the outer edges 01" the rcciprocable plates 48 and 49, and the plates and cam blocks are provided with elongated slots 51 through which the pins extend. The plates 4.8 and 49 may be reciprocated by a different means, but are reciprocated simul taneously in opposite directions to move the member 23 from and toward the member 22 in releasing and clamping the curtains. In the present case if have shown a rod 52 connected to a handle 53 and mounted to rotate in the members 50 and 22. A pinion or gear is rigidly mounted on this rod and meshes with racks 55 and 56 located on opposite sides of elongated openings 57 and 58 respectively in the plates 48 and 49 respectively. Thus when the handle 53 is rotated to the ri ilt or clockwise as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8 the gear will draw he inner plate 49 downwardly and move the outer plate upwardly. Thus the cam blocl s a? carried by the inner plate- 49 will move downwardly, and reacting against the blocks 45 carried by the pins 4-2 will move the member 23 inwardly and clamp its opposite side edges tightly against the edges of the curtains 13 and 14, securely clamping these edges of the curtain against the side flanges 24 oi the inner member 22 as shown in Figs. 6 and 'Z. Rotating the handle in the opposite direction will move the inner plate 9 upwardly releasing the blocks 45, but will move the outer plate 48 and cam blocks 46 downwardly, which movement of cam blocks 46 will cause them to react against blocks 44 on the pins 42 and move the member 22 outwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7 In this position the side edges of the curtain are released allowing free manipulation of the curtains either to raise or lower them as desired, the two members 22 and 23 forming guides for the free edges of the curtains during their movement. After the curtains are drawn, manipulation of the handle 53 will securely clamp and hold them as above described. I

If desired, the rod 52 may be mounted for a slight longitudinal movement in the members 22 and 50 with a spring 59 embracing this rod and reacting at its opposite ends against the gear 54 and the member 22 to tend to move the rod inwardly. A washer 60 having radial corrugations may be secured to the wall of the member 22 and a corresponding washer 61 secured on the rod 52. Thus when the rod is rotated it will have a slight reciprocatory movement as the corrugations of the two washers slide over each other, but when the handle is released the spring cooperates with these corrugated washers to hold the handle in any position. Thus no separate locking means is required and the spring also keeps the elements from rattling. I also preferably secure strips of rubber or fibre 62 along the clamping sides of member 23 and flanges 24 to give a more secure grip on the curtain.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I have devised simple effective and easily manipulated means forming a guide for the free edges of the flexible curtains, and that by a simple manipulation of the handle these free edges may be securely clamped in the guide, so that they are securely held by this rigid element. A single operationof the handle will release these curtains and allow them to be raised out of the way. If it is desired to leave the curtains raised the guide and clamp is easily and quickly moved out of the way as described above, and may be as easily and quickly returned to the upright position and secured therein as will be obvious. This guide and clamp not only provides a rigid protecting means for the free edges of the curtains, but'rigidly holds them against flapping in the wind, and makes a tight joint between the curtains which exeludes wind and rain. If it is desired to use only the rear curtain 14 the forward free edge may be clamped by the supporting means and rigidly held. Itwill be obvious that differentclamping means maybe provided and that various types of catches and so forth may be used, the structure described in the foregoing description being merely illustrative of one structure for carrying out my invention.

Although in the above description I have described the invention as applied to an automobile the device is not limited to use therewith but is adapted for similar use where substantially the same curtain arrangement is employed.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination of automobile body and top members, a curtain roller carried by one of said members, an upright guide extending between the body and top, a flexible curtain mounted on the roller and guided in its movement by said guide, and manually operable means for clamping the curtain on the opposite sides thereof and adjacent its upright edge in adirection normal to the plane of the curtain to retain it in said guide.

2. The combination of spaced automobile body and top members, a flexible curtain carried by one of said members and movable to and from a position between said members, an upright guide extending between the top and body and arranged to guide the edge of the curtain during its movement, and manually operable means for clamping the curtain on the opposite sides thereof and adjacent its upright edge in a direction normal to the plane of the curtain to retain it in said guide.

3. The combination with an automobile body and top the top, an upright guide extending between the top and body, a flexible curtain carried by the roller and guided at its edge in said guide during its movement, and manually operable means 7 the opposite sides thereof and adjacent its upright edge in a direction normal to the plane of the curtain to retain it in the guide.

4. The combination with the top and body members of an automobile of a curtain roller carried by one of said members, a guide carried by one of the members adapted to be moved to different positions and movable to an upright position between said members, means carried by the other member for securing the free end of the guide, a flexible curtain carried by the roller and guided at its edge in said guide during its movement, and manually operable means for clamping the curtain on the opposite sides thereof in a direction normal to the plane of the curtain to retain it in the guide.

5. The combination with the top and body members of an automobile of a curtain roller carried by one of said members, a guide hinged to one of said members and movable to a reclining position on the member and to an uprightposition between the members,

' means for securing the guide in either position. a curtain carried by the roller and guided in its movement by said guide, and manually operable means for clamping the curtain in a direction normal to the plane of the curtain to retain it in the guide.

6. The combination with the top and body of a curtain roller carried by for clamping the curtainon l members of an automobile of a curtain roller carried by one of said members, a guide carried by one of the members adapted to be moved to diiierent positions and movable to an upright position between the members, said guide comprising upright elements one of which is movable toward and from the other element, a curtain mounted on the roller and extending between said elements and guided thereby during its movement, said elements being located on opposite sides of the plane of the curtain, and means for shifting the movable element to clamp and release the curtain.

7. The combination with an automobile body and top of a pair of curtain rollers carried by the top, a pair of flexible curtains carried by said rollers, an upright guide extending between the body and top between the adjacent edges of said curtains, said guide comprising a stationary member and a movable member forming a guiding means for the edges of the curtains, and means for moving the latter member toward the other member to clamp the curtainsbetween the members.

8. The combination with the top and body members of an automobile of a pair of curtain rollers carried by one of said members, an upright guide extending between the members, flexible curtains carried by the rollers and located on opposite sides of said guide, said curtains being guided by their adjacent edges in said guide during their movements, and manually operable means for clampin said adjacent curtain edges in the guide.

9. The combination with an automobile body and top of a pair of substantially aligned curtain rollers carried by the top, a pair of flexible curtains carried by said rollers, an upright guide for the adjacent edges of the curtains extending between the top and body, said guide being pivoted to the top at one end, means for securing the other end to the body, said guide comprising two members one of which is movable toward and from the other, and means operable from the inside of the body for moving the movable member toward the other member to clamp the adjacent edges of the curtains between them.

10. In combination with the top and body members of an automobile, sin-upright curtain guide and clamp extending between said members comp rising a substantially U-shaped sheet metal stationary element having laterally extending flanges at the sides thereof, a movable element opposed to the stationary element, guides for the movable element carried by the stationary element, spaced blocks carried by said guides, a pair of plates slidably mounted in the stationary element, cams carried by the plates arranged to coact with the blocks to move the second element in opposite directions, and means for simultaneon reciprocating the plates in opposite directions to operate said element.

11. In combination, a support, a curtain roller carried by said support, a guide secured to the support, a flexible curtain carried by the rollerand guided in its movement at its side edge by said guide, and manually operable means for clamping the curtain adjacent its side edge in a direction normal to the plane of the curtain to retain it in the guide.

12. In combination, a support, a pair of curtain rollers carried by said support, a guide securedv to the support, flexible curtains carried by the rollers with their adjacent side edges guided in their movements by said guide, and manually operable means for clamping said curtains adjacent said side edges in a direction normal to the planes oi the curtains to retain their edges in the guide.

13. In combination, a support, a curtain roller carried by said support, a guide secured to the support comprising a pair of elements one of which elements is movable toward and from the other element, a flexible curtain mounted on the roller with its edge extending between said elements and guided thereby during its movement, and means forshiiting the i'novable element toward and from the other element to clamp and release the curtain.

14. in combination; a support, a pair of curtain rollers carried by said support, a pair of flcxiole curtains mounted on said rollers, a guide secured to the support between the curtains comprising a pair of elements one of which elements is movable toward and, from the other element, the adjacent edges of both curtains being guided in their movements by said guide, and means to shift the movable element toward and from the other element to clamp and release the adjacent edges of the curtains.

15. In closures for the side portions of automobiles, the combination with a top and automobile body over which the top is supported, of curnin means movable upwardly into and downwardlyfrom the top of the automobile, and inwardly and outwardly movable fastening means for overlapping and removably securing an edge ofthe curtain means and provided with inwardly projectin guide and operating pins accessible from the interior of the automobile for securing and releasing the edges of the curtain eans. In testimony whereotI affix my signature.

HERBERT s. DAVIS. 

